robertmaybeth I'm slightly dismayed at the low regard for this film since it is one of the better realizations of a Michael Crichton novel. Coming as it was just 2 years after the block-buster movie "Jurassic Park" (based on another Crichton novel) perhaps many in the target audience expected more and felt short-changed by this film. And for sheer spectacle, "Congo" obviously isn't going to top the earlier film. In my view though, for sheer viewing pleasure this film is nearly as good in many ways. The action is almost non-stop: From the start, "Congo" proceeds apace with almost no wasted lines, scenes or characters and something important is happening in almost every scene.Unusual among this type of action film are the many likable characters. Heading up the excellent cast is Laura Linney as Karen, the very serious but quite competent leader of the expedition. She has been dispatched to the Congo to discover what has happened to an earlier expedition sent by her employer JB Travis, (Joe Don Baker) whose son has been mysteriously lost (on a search for industrial diamonds for communications satellites). Also good are Dylan Walsh as a primatologist seeking to return his lab gorilla (Amy) to the wild; Ernie Hudson as Captain Kelly, the very likable American/British/? fixer and guide; and Tim Curry as Hormulka, a greedy Romanian "philanthropist" who is secretly funding the expedition in a search for diamonds "in the mysterious city of Xingh" (after mentioning this, Kelly asks Hormulka "Have you been taking your medication?")Although all of this sounds like the makings of a cartoon,"Congo" is anything but cartoonish: There are enough exciting plot elements, likable characters, low-level intrigue, fascinating technology, and elements of real danger that you could easily fill two similar movies. I am as discerning as any other IMDB commenter, and so I usually find myself agreeing with 5 star ratings on clinker movies. However, this is one time I strongly feel a movie should be rated a lot higher then it is. For great plot development, gorgeous scenery, interesting animals (even the ones with people in monkey suits) cool tech, decent gun-play and interesting, likable and well-played characters, I feel this movie deserves a solid 9.

orangehenryviii When a movie opens with a Bruce Campbell cameo as a fanny-pack-sporting explorer you know you are in for a goofy good time. Throw in Tim Curry, Joe Don Baker, a talking gorilla, a volcano, and more fake monkeys than Saturday morning TV in the 70s and it's a party. All this with a Michael Crichton plot and big budget special effects. Thank goodness Spielberg didn't get his hands on this or it may have never turned out to be such ridiculous good fun. If you are are in the mood for a so-bad-its-good/accidentally funny flick, then break out the pop corn and enjoy!

SnoopyStyle A team from a communication company is in Congo on an expedition. They discover a lost city and are massacred. Karen Ross (Laura Linney) is an ex-CIA agent and goes in search of the lost group. She and philanthropist Herkermer Homolka (Tim Curry) fund an expedition of Dr. Peter Elliott (Dylan Walsh) and his assistant Richard (Grant Heslov) from Berkley. They have taught a gorilla named Amy how to sign and with a glove and computer backpack, she can speak. The group is joined by local guide Munro Kelly (Ernie Hudson). At the Lost City of Zinj, they are confronted with a species of gray gorillas.This is such an odd movie. It isn't quite quirky enough to be funny. Yet it can't be taken seriously especially with Amy around. It probably needs a comedian to do the comedy and I don't think Tim Curry is quite right. He's too weaselly. The action adventure doesn't really work because none of it seem real. The sets all look fake. I don't mind the gray gorilla group's look. They could look more menacing. Amy is too fake. She's intended as one of the lead characters but she doesn't look good enough. I might like it better if the movie fully embraced its campiness.

tbills2 The movie Congo is hushedly giantly appealing; Congo's viewing is very attractive for some reasons. Congo has these beautiful landscapes with great 'geothermal' colors, first-class budgeted production effects, and an awesomely themed story about killer gorillas, silver, killer gorillas at that. People are profoundly interested in the great apes, curious to know their ways, how smart that they are, and if they're dangerous or not. Congo interests in that. Also, Congo's a gentle, unmalicious viewing which so helps in strengthening its gorier moments, and it's backed by a drastically popular novel, oh, and it has lava! All this, and what else, makes it very largely appealing. Ooo! Ooo! I know what else! The beautiful Laura Linney! I can't forget about her! She's, really like, perfect, for the part. This is Linney's great starring role in Congo. I think she knocked it out of the park. Laura is more infatuating in a leading role than she is in her supporting roles even. Once the team gets to the Congo, Congo starts getting better. If you're expecting some Hollywood blockbuster typical-type movie, you're not gonna get it here. Is it just me, or do gorilla suits look exactly like real gorillas?